If you like the idea of solar panels, chances are you’ll be thinking of adding a heat pump too – after all, you can run it on the electricity you generate with your panels.

And with Sunsave Plus offering solar panels for no upfront cost and government grants reducing the price of heat pumps, you can now buy both systems for £5,000, on average.

In this guide, we’ll explain how using a heat pump with solar panels works, how many panels you’ll need, and which properties are suitable.

If you would like to see the savings you could get from a solar & battery system, answer a few questions below and we’ll provide an estimate.

Can you power a heat pump with solar panels?

You can certainly power a heat pump with solar panels; heat pumps are powered by electricity, and solar panels continually produce free electricity.

In fact, it’s one of the best ways to lower your heating bills at the same time as reducing your electricity bills.

You can't expect to cover 100% of your heat pump's electricity needs with solar panels, but you can still slash your bills by increasing your self-consumption – that is, how much of your solar electricity goes towards powering your property, instead of being sent to the grid.

This is invaluable, as you’ll almost always save more money by using your solar electricity than by selling it to the grid via a solar export tariff.

Heat pump sales are growing, with more than 200,000 now installed in the UK – and over half of those installations have taken place since the start of 2021.

This surge in demand is mirrored in the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, both of which are part of the UK electrifying its heating and transport networks in the coming years.

This process, which will increase energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions, is already placing a strain on our electricity grid.

As the country attempts to keep up with demand by expanding its grid and storage capabilities, owning solar panels – and a heating network powered by them – will become increasingly important to keep energy bills down.

It’ll also help the UK navigate this tricky period, as the more homes that get solar panels, the more it’ll lighten the load on the grid.

Can you use a solar battery with a heat pump?

You can absolutely use a solar battery with a heat pump.

In fact, it’s the best way to ensure your solar panels supply as much electricity to your heat pump as possible.

During winter, spring, and autumn, you can fill up your battery with solar electricity in the daytime, then use this power to heat your household when it gets dark.

In the summer you won’t need your heat pump as much, so after the sun sets, you can sell the electricity in your battery to the grid, through one of the best export tariffs.

How much does a heat pump with solar panels cost?

A heat pump with solar panels will cost the typical household £18,000, overall.

This will get you a 7.6kWp solar panel system, for around £13,000, which is large enough to power your home’s electricity and heating for most of the year.

Buying a heat pump and getting it installed costs £12,500 on average, according to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) – but fortunately, the government Boiler Upgrade Scheme can reduce this price tag by £7,500.

If you want to add a solar battery at the same time, it’ll usually set you back another £2,000, for a total of £20,000.

However, if you sign up to Sunsave Plus, you won’t have to pay anything upfront for your solar & battery system, taking the overall cost down to just £5,000 for the heat pump.

You’ll also receive the Sunsave Guarantee, which means 20 years of 24/7 monitoring and maintenance, free battery and inverter replacements, and insurance against theft, damage, and fire.

How much does a heat pump cost to run with solar?

Running a heat pump with a solar & battery system will cost the typical household £641 per year.

This is a 32% saving on the cost of powering a heat pump with grid electricity alone, which is £939 per year for the average home.

We’ve assumed you’ll use 50% of your solar electricity to power the heat pump.

Of course, this doesn’t include the money you’ll save by using your solar electricity to run the rest of your household’s electrical devices, or how much you’ll earn by selling your excess solar power to the grid.

How much your household will save also depends on factors including your location, the size of your solar & battery system, and the amount of electricity and heating your home requires.

If you’re wondering how much a solar & battery system could save you, just click the button below, answer a few questions, and we’ll provide you with an estimate.

Are there any grants for heat pumps and solar panels?

There are several heat pump and solar panel grants available to households in the UK.

The government’s ECO4 scheme compels large suppliers to install solar panels in electrically heated, energy-inefficient households.

If you own or privately rent a home with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D-G, and someone in the property receives a qualifying benefit, you may be able to get solar panels for free.

The Home Upgrade Grant can provide solar panels and a heat pump for a large discount or completely free, at your local council’s discretion – but only if you’re not connected to the gas grid.

It’s available in 45 local authorities in England, for low-income households with an EPC rating of D-G.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is available to all homeowners in England and Wales, and allows you to get £7,500 off the cost of an air, ground, or water source heat pump.

If you live in a Scottish property you own, you may be eligible for the government’s Home Energy Scotland Grant & Loan.

This scheme offers a £7,500 grant for a heat pump, plus an optional zero-interest loan of up to £7,500 to cover any additional costs.

And if you’re in Wales, you may be able to access Nest, a government initiative that provides free measures including heat pumps and solar panels.

To qualify, you must own or privately rent your home, have a low rating on your EPC report, and either live in a low-income household or receive a means-tested benefit.

You could also look into solar panel loans.

What’s the environmental benefit of a heat pump with solar panels?

The environmental benefit of using a heat pump with solar panels is that it slashes your household’s carbon emissions by a total of 3.1 tonnes of CO2 per year, on average.

This would wipe out the great majority of the typical home’s carbon footprint.

Generally, your heat pump will get about 68% of its electricity from the grid, which still uses gas and coal to generate around one-third of its electricity.

This will result in 0.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions – which is a saving of 1.8 tonnes compared to the average gas boiler, according to Nesta.

With a 7.6kWp solar panel system, the average system in the UK will produce an extra 5,200kWh on top of the power needed for your heat pump – which will save an additional 1.3 tonnes of CO2 per year by replacing most of your grid electricity.

Is your home suitable for a heat pump and solar panels?

Most homes in the UK are suitable for a heat pump and solar panels.

Heat pumps can be installed in all property types – from flats to detached – and in homes from any architectural era, according to the government-funded Electrification of Heat project.

That means your suitability will instead come down to whether you have a good level of insulation, and enough space for the different components. You’ll need room outside for the external unit, and space inside to fit a hot water cylinder

Ideally, you’d also have underfloor heating or large radiators, but it’s not essential.

To be suitable for solar panels, you’ll just need to own a roof that’s at least mostly unshaded, faces south, east, or west, and can support the weight of panels – which most can.

If you’re interested in how much you could save with a solar & battery system, click the button below, enter a few details, and we’ll generate an estimate.